joshua – Page 4 – Praying Pint

74. Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine

Joshua 9:3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”’ Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14     So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.  He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Isaiah 30:1-2    “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

Proverbs 3:5-6     Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

James 1:5     If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

The passage from Joshua would give us some insight into how critical it is in all things to seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit. When reading this it all seems like the Israelites did what was right. They listened to these people and looked at the physical evidence to collaborate what they were saying and came to a conclusion. It all seemed to add up and make sense. But sometimes lies are spoken and the truth is far from what is being told to us and clouds what we are able to perceive. We think we are making the right decision and following our heart in line with our understanding of God’s word. We should understand our need, in all things great and small, to seek Holy Spirit wisdom, understanding, knowledge, awareness, and perception. Seeking God is never wrong but not seeking Him almost always is.

73. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Joshua 8:34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.

Deuteronomy 31:10-12    And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths,  when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.  Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,

Nehemiah 8:2-3     So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.  And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Nehemiah 9:3    And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20     “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.  But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,  I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,  loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

There was times past when God’s word was read to an entire nation, a time spent listening to His word and time spent in confession and time spent in worship. It is hard for us to imagine what it would be like to not have God’s written word immediately available and easily accessible. Wh don’t have to wait until there is a special day for His word to be read to us, we can read it at anytime we choose. Is it possible that His word is so readily available that we don’t find the need to spend time in it every day? Is it possible that because it is so accessible that we just tuck it away until we think we need it?

God’s word is not to be seen or used as a remedy quick fix book for when we come to hard times or sickness, or troubles, or trials. God’s word is to be food for every moment of every day. His word is to be so needed that it is consumed like the very air we need and breath. If His word is not active in your life is it possible that it is void from your choice of needing it, relying on it, clinging to it, wanting it??????

Choose to spend time in His word, neglecting it will always lead to your heart, mind and soul drifting away from Him.

72. I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you

Joshua 8:1 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.

Deuteronomy 1:21    See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

Psalms 27:1   The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 43:2     When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Deuteronomy 7:18    you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,

Matthew 8:26    And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Deuteronomy 31:8    It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Isaiah 12:2    “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

When we are not going through a trial or crisis of some sort it is easy to say “we will not fear,” “God is my strength,” “He is my stronghold,’ “I will not be afraid,” “He is with me.” However it is when trials or troubles come our way that doubts, worries, anxiousness, fear, hopelessness, confusion,….. all or in part erode way our resolve to trust and rely in Jesus Christ. Faith seems to need trials and troubles in our life to be able to grow and become a strong foundation for service to God. It is when we face these trials and troubles that we can work through all of those human thoughts of being able to handle this on our own, or in our own power and strength and come to realize that only when we, by faith/reliance/trust, place it in the hands of Jesus Christ does the burden and fear of what lies ahead goes away. We realize and come to understand the verse “come unto me all who are heavy with burdens and I will give you rest”.

Know that being afraid and with fear of what lies ahead is a human response relying on human strength, wisdom, power, and understanding. Likewise know that having peace that passes all understanding comes from a human choice to lay all of our cares, worries, and fears at the feet of Jesus – Faith-Trust-Reliance in Him who is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

70. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him

Joshua 5:13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Exodus 23:20-22 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

Interest in angels is at an all-time low in our culture, and few people long to have an encounter with them. However, while seeing an angel would be a remarkable event, even the angels themselves are far more concerned that we heed God’s messages to us than they are that we see them face to face. We have in Scripture a message from the Lord delivered through the angels (Heb. 2:1–4)”Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

It is that message we must trust, follow, and obey.

37. The Lord did not listen to your voice or give ear to you.

Deuteronomy 1:34 “And the Lord heard your words and was angered, and he swore, Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!’ Even with me the Lord was angry on your account and said, ‘You also shall not go in there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.’

“Then you answered me, We have sinned against the Lord. We ourselves will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every one of you fastened on his weapons of war and thought it easy to go up into the hill country. And the Lord said to me, Say to them, Do not go up or fight, for I am not in your midst, lest you be defeated before your enemies.’ So I spoke to you, and you would not listen; but you rebelled against the command of the Lord and presumptuously went up into the hill country. Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah. And you returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord did not listen to your voice or give ear to you. So you remained at Kadesh many days, the days that you remained there.

Not doing what the Lord asks of us or doing what the Lord asks us not to do is the same thing. We either do not listen, can’t hear, or don’t care to be close enough to God to hear His voice speak into our lives through His word. The result is “doing what seems right” but it is not of God’s leading.

When we do something with the appearance of “good” we can come up with every excuse in the world as to why what we are doing is honoring God. Is the “good” you are doing a result of being led by God or because you think it seems the right thing to do or because society thinks you should? The question to ask your soul is; am I doing this to honor and glorify God alone, or am I doing this to make myself feel good, get some recognition for doing it, or earn God’s favor by doing it? God already has shown His favor, love, compassion, mercy, and grace through sending His son Jesus to redeem and call us to Himself. There is nothing more we can do but to surrender all of our being, heart, mind, and soul to humbly serve, worship, glorify, follow, obey, and honor to Him.

When we are complacent and neglectful our ears become dull or deaf to hearing God speak into our lives through His word or from others who speak His word into our lives. We seem to gravitate toward this as a natural default when things are going good and only return to seek and desire Him when things are troubling us. This does not honor God and He is not going to be mocked by this thinking. There must be a steadfast repentance and turning away from how we were and how we were thinking. This will never happen apart from gaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from His word. Peter said if you are not continuing to grow you are not standing still but rather you are drifting away. There is never a permanent position where we can say we have a full understanding and knowledge of God.

Does your heart ache for the way our culture is heading? Does your heart weep for the way our church body is leaning more and more toward the way of the culture/society? Do you see and hear the way of our society with the eyes and ears of man or God?

Be intentional in reading His word. Be intentional in listening to Him. Be intentional in honoring Him. Be intentional in obeying Him. Be intentional in growing in understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of Him.

26. God knows our thoughts and intents

Numbers 14:26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.”

Psalms 139:2    You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 94:11 The Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Psalm 139:4   Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

2 Corinthians 10:5   We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

God knows our thoughts and intents. He knows the word on our tongue before it is spoken. He looks and searches our heart. God will give every man according to his ways. Scripture begs us to examine ourselves in and through His word. It tells us to take our thoughts captive. Thoughts not in line with the fruits of the Spirit need to be taken captive and discarded immediately. Think about this for awhile. It is not easy when we have been wronged, hurt, sick, lost someone, felt alone, felt neglected, felt cheated, treated unfairly, cut-off while driving, rumored about, slandered, without a job or income, etc…….

Thoughts come and they can be stepping stones to separation from God’s peace, refuge, rest, strength, courage, and hope. If these thoughts are taken captive and recognized for what they are we can easily discard them and confess them to God. We can even ask Him to remove these thoughts from our head.

Examine your thoughts today and see if they reflect the love of Jesus Christ.

23. “The Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

Numbers 14:1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

The cry of the people while in Egypt was heard by God and he delivered them out of the hand of slavery with many mighty wonders and miraculous deeds. These powerful acts of God were witnessed by the Israelites time and time again. Each of these acts also demonstrated God’s love for His chosen. Each of these acts should have resulted in a rock-solid firm foundation of faith in the limitless power, might, strength, and sovereignty of God. Again in the wilderness, God demonstrated His love, justice and awesome deeds supplying food, water, and leading them. His judgment was carried out against grumbling, stiff-necked responses to His love and leading, and disobedience.

So why did they so easily turn away from his leading time and time again? Trust, Reliance, Faith, Hope, and Remaining True were lacking and no matter what God had shown them and no matter how many times they were delivered and no matter how many times they repented. Their lack of belief did not allow them to experience the love and power of God deep in their heart, soul, and mind. Without a trusting in, relying on, and steadfast belief in God there is no satisfaction, purpose, or hope. This belief/faith must be based on truth and is forged in trials we face. “Now faith is the substance/assurance of things hoped for, the conviction/evidence of things not seen.”

Belief eliminates the grumbling heart and places a thankful trusting satisfaction within the soul. We find more and more understanding and knowledge of God when we spend more and more time in His word with a heart of belief.

Ask God to open up His word to your soul. Ask Him for wisdom and understanding in it’s application to your life. Ask Him to open your eyes to His wonders and your ears to His leading. Believe and remain steadfast in your total reliance on Him.

Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.

Exodus 34:27     And the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”

Deuteronomy 31:9    Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

Joshua 4:7    then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Haggai 2:2-3     “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say,  ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

Write it as a memorial. recite it the ears of Joshua. Write it down so that it will not be forgotten. Speak it so that it will be passed on. When it comes to God’s word being active in our life, we should have memorials/testimonies that are recited in the ears of our family and friends. We should write them down so they are not forgotten. They should be spoken to give God honor and the hearer encouragement in what God is doing.

Note, in Haggai where the house of God was nothing in the eyes of the people. They forgot it’s former glory of God. They forgot God. They went their own way, down their own path away from God.

When God’s word is neglected or we take to being complacent toward it, His word is becomes no longer active in our heart, soul, and mind and then it is not active in our everyday life.

Be very careful in your walk with God. Keep His word close to your heart. Write down and recite what He is doing in your life frequently to your family and friends. Honor God with your life – keep His word active in what you think, say, and do.

Do whatever He tells you.

Exodus 17:8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

Joshua 11:15     Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Matthew 28:20    teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 2:5     His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

“So Joshua did as Moses told him.” So Joshua did. He left nothing undone” “Observe all that I have commanded you.” “Do whatever he tells you.”

Noah did as the Lord commanded, Abraham did as the Lord commanded. Samuel, Elisha, Elijah, Esther, Ruth, Daniel, Isaiah, Nehemiah, 12 Disciples, Paul, Barnabas, Timothy….. and the list can go on and on of those we read about who did as the Lord commanded.

Why does this seem natural to some? Is it possible that these people believed (relied on, trusted in, and clung to) God? Could it be that they made with an intentional heart, mind, and soul choice which was fueled by a desire to seek and honor God?

There is something different about people who intentionally choose each day to deny self and humbly, seek, and desire, God. they want to grow in understanding and knowledge of Him. They want to honor Him through what they think and say. They want to worship and praise Him. They want to follow and obey Him. They want to hear His whispers of guidance and correction into their daily life.

We grow in obedience, understanding, reliance, hope, strength, and power when scripture is more than a book for times of trouble. When there are intentional commitment and humble purposeful desire for scripture, it becomes the like the air we breathe, the food we eat, and water we drink because without it death comes quickly. Without it, there is no understanding of God’s love and wrath. There is no understanding of God’s power and might. There is no understanding of His precious promises. There is no basis to build faith and hope. There is no place of refuge. There is no divine peace in our soul. There is no way for us to “Do as He commands”.

How are you to be able to “Do whatever He tells you” if you are not seeking to hear Him speak? Make a choice today to read His word and desire for Him speak to your heart, mind, and soul. Do whatever He tells you.

Do all things without grumbling

Exodus 16:1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Psalms 106:7     Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Psalms 106:13     But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

Psalms 106:25    They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.

1Corinthians 10:9  We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

Numbers 14:27-30     “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.  Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you:  your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,  not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

Philippians 2:14     Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

I don’t know what is worse, to not believe there is a God, or to know there is a Powerful, Mighty, Limitless, Creator – “God” and grumble about His care, purpose, plan, and love for those who are called by His name. One denies God exists and the other denies His omniscient and omnipresence in and through His creation. One gives no thought and the other denies His faithfulness and steadfast love.

For those who deny God exists there is not much hope outside of God softening their heart to Him and giving them one more chance to receive Him. For those who believe that God exists and they grumble through life, blaming God, and discounting God, this is very sad state of mind to be in.

We all have moments in our life where we question “why” are the trials that hit us not stopped by God. Scripture tells us that God allows some trials and troubles to come our way to test our heart. It is not as though God does not already know but rather to show us the state of our heart, our faith, our trust and our reliance in the awesome hands of God.

We do well to learn from those in the past and not repeat the same humanistic views. We do well to lean not onto our own understanding but through prayer and thanksgiving let our requests be known to God. Relying on Him, trusting in Him, clinging to Him – this is where hope and faith grow and mature.

Whatever it is you are facing – place it in God’s hands and allow Him to work His perfect plan through it all.